Perceived Parental SUPPORTS for Avoiding Sedentary Behaviors and Overweightness AMONG African American CHILDREN

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess perceived parental supports to avoid sedentary behaviors and overweightness among African American school children in Florida. Methods: A survey was administered among school children in Leon County Schools and Gadsden County Schools among 4th to 8th graders. Results: The sample (N=721) consisted of all youth between the ages of 9-14 years of age enrolled in grades 4th-8th Leon and Gadsden County, Florida, an urban and rural population respectively, to decrease possible stigma from participation and provide a comparison group for the African American population of interest. Perceived Parental Support and Self-Efficacy for avoiding sedentary behavior were positively, strongly correlated (r=0.56, p=0.000). Self-efficacy and social factors were moderately, positively correlated (r=0.31, p=0.000). Parental support and social factors were also strongly, positively correlated (r=0.50, p=0.000). Time Use and Self-efficacy were weakly, negatively correlated (r= -0.21, p=0.000) and time use and social factors were also weakly correlated (r=0.12, p=0.000). In the multinomial regression model, at the 95th percentile (overweight category) self-efficacy was moderately significant (AOR=1.40; CI=1.01-1.93). County was significant (AOR=1.68; CI=1.08-2.61), Gender was also significant (COR=1.41; CI=1.00-2.00), enrollment in the free/reduce lunch program was significant (AOR=0.61; CI=0.39-0.93). Conclusions: Participants who had increased perceived self-efficacy were approximately 1.4 times more likely to be overweight than their counterparts, and those who lived in Gadsden County were 1.7 times more likely to be overweight. Finally, that those enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program were 7% less likely to be overweight than their normal counterparts. These findings imply that further research with a sample that is predominantly minority need to be conducted. Given the lack of association with self-efficacy, another theoretical model may offer a better fit, including a larger focus on cultural and environmental variables. The study findings also highlight the importance of possible differences among African American children and White children in perceived self-efficacy, as well as difference among urban and rural overweightness.